Rear Facing CRS Fitment

Abstract

The publication in SAE was also presented at the Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Symposium and the publically available write-up is made available here.

Digital reconstruction of 22 rear facing (RF) child restraint systems (CRS) was accomplished using the Microsoft Kinect for Windows v1.0 sensor and supplemented by 18 OEM drawings. 40 CRS were compiled to represent 72 RF CRS in the current US market (as of April 2014). Finite element (FE) models of the individual seats were generated and placed into seat back and seat-pan angles and overlapped to create “virtual surrogates.” The virtual surrogate was made available to both vehicle and CRS manufacturers for virtual fitment evaluations in various vehicle environments. Based on both physical installations of select CRS and virtual evaluation, the surrogate was found to accurately depict the volume, fitment, and interference of modern RF CRS.

In Development of a Small rear Facing Child Restraint System Virtual Surrogate to Evaluate CRS-to-Vehicle Fitment, SAE.

Date

July, 2015

Background

Each year the Ohio State University hosts its annual Injury Biomechanics Research Symposium to showcase and support young researchers on a stage where they can present their subjects among high level peers in a non-threatening environment. Attendees of the conference include academic professionals from various institutions as well as leading members of automotive safety and commercial organizations. Both podium-style and poster-style presentations are given over the course of the two-day, two-night event.

I was accepted for my work at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia under the supervision and tutelage of Dr. Aditya Belwadi, PhD. We looked to produce a method for assessing the geometry of the child car seat market to better inform vehicle manufacturers and end-users alike of the design constraints they should keep in mind when designing or purchasing vehicles and CRS. Using finite element methodology and scanning techniques, we were able to combine meshes from child car seat scans that could accurately portray that market in a 3D virtual environment. While this was merely a foray into what was possible, this information could be increasingly valuable to new families and caregivers making accurate considerations in their CRS and vehicle purchasing decisions.